Grebes
Grebes () are aquatic diving birds in the order (biology), order Podicipediformes . Grebes are widely distributed freshwater birds, with some species also found in sea, marine habitats during Bird migration, migration and winter. Some flightless species exist as well, most notably in stable lakes. The order contains a single family (biology), family, the Podicipedidae, which includes 22 species in six extant genus, genera. Although, superficially, they resemble other diving birds such as loons and coots, they are most closely related to flamingos, as supported by morphology (biology), morphological, molecular and paleontology, paleontological data. Many species are monogamy in animals, monogamous and are known for their courtship displays, with the pair performing synchronized dances across the water's surface. The birds build floating vegetative nests where they lay several eggs. About a third of the world's grebes are listed at various levels of conservation concerns—the bigges ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Pied-billed Grebe
The pied-billed grebe (''Podilymbus podiceps'') is a species of the grebe family of water birds. Because the Atitlán grebe (''Podilymbus gigas'') has become extinct, the Pied-Billed Grebe is now the sole extant member of the genus ''Podilymbus''. The pied-billed grebe is primarily found in ponds throughout the Americas. Other names of this grebe include American dabchick, rail, dabchick, Carolina grebe, devil-diver, dive-dapper, dipper, hell-diver, pied-billed dabchick, pied-bill, thick-billed grebe, and water witch. Taxonomy and name The pied-billed grebe was described by Carl Linnaeus in the 10th edition of his ''Systema Naturae'' in 1758 as ''Colymbus podiceps''. The binomial name is derived from Latin ''Podilymbus'', a contraction of ''podicipes'' ("feet at the buttocks", from ''podici-'', "rump-" + ''pes'', "foot")—the origin of the name of the grebe order—and Ancient Greek ''kolymbos'', "diver", and ''podiceps'', "rump-headed", from ''podici-'' + New Latin ''ceps''. ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Miobaptus
''Miobaptus'' is a fossil genus of grebe that is known from several specimens collected from Czechia and Lake Baikal dating from the Early Miocene to Middle Miocene. Considered to be one of the most primitive genus of grebes, the anatomy of ''Miobaptus'' suggests it was less adapted for the aquatic mode of life than modern grebes, but had better flight maneuverablity. History The holotype species ''M. walteri'' was collected from Dolnice and described by Švec (1982). He would later described more specimens of the species from Bohemia in 1984. A second species ''M. huzhiricus'' was described by Zelenkov (2015) from specimens collected from Olkhon Island. Description The distal part in the humeri of ''Miobaptus'' is different from extant grebes as the surface is flat and overall the wingbones more elongated. In contrast the distal ends in the humeri of extant grebes the surfaces is more concave, and overall they have much shorter wingbones. Classification ''Miobaptus'' is placed ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Thiornis
''Thiornis'' is a fossil genus of Middle Miocene grebe known from a nearly complete specimen from Libros, Spain. Originally classified as a type of moorhen, ''Thiornis'' has since been classified as a species of grebe. The overall anatomy of the bird is identical to modern grebes. It contains a single species, ''T. sociata''. History The specimen was described by the Spanish Jesuit priest and entomologist Longinos Navás. Despite being of such distinction, Navás had described several vertebrates from the locality. For a while the whereabouts since its description was unknown, but unbeknownst to the scientific community, the slab was on display in the Paris Museum at least since 1930 where it was finally reexamine for a 1995 redescription by American biologist and ornithologist Storrs L. Olson. Description The holotype of ''Thiornis'' is known from a virtually completed specimen that majority of it consists of postcranial material and even feather impressions (MNHN 1930-1). Pa ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Flamingo
Flamingos or flamingoes are a type of Wader, wading bird in the Family (biology), family Phoenicopteridae, which is the only extant family in the order Phoenicopteriformes. There are four flamingo species distributed throughout the Americas (including the Caribbean), and two species native to Afro-Eurasia. A group of flamingoes is called a "flamboyance." Etymology The name ''flamingo'' comes from Portuguese language, Portuguese or Spanish language, Spanish ("flame-colored"), which in turn comes from Old Occitan, Provençal – a combination of ("flame") and a Germanic-like suffix ''wikt:-ing#Etymology 3, -ing''. The word may also have been influenced by the Spanish ethnonym ("Fleming" or "Flemish"). The name of the genus, ''Phoenicopterus'', is from the Greek , ); other genera names include ''Lesser flamingo, Phoeniconaias,'' which means "crimson/red Naiad, water nymph (or naiad)", and ''Phoenicoparrus,'' which means "crimson/red bird (though, an unknown bird of om ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Aechmophorus
''Aechmophorus''Etymology: ''Aechmophorus'', "spear-bearer", from Ancient Greek ''aichme'' (a spear) + ''phoros'' (one who bears something around), in reference to its bill. is a genus of bird Birds are a group of warm-blooded vertebrates constituting the class Aves (), characterised by feathers, toothless beaked jaws, the laying of hard-shelled eggs, a high metabolic rate, a four-chambered heart, and a strong yet lightweigh ...s in the grebe family. Species It has two living representatives breeding in western North America. One prehistoric species has been described from fossil remains: *''Aechmophorus elasson'' (Late Pliocene of W USA) Although the two living species look very similar, beak, bill shape and coloration, as well as feathering around the scarlet eye of the bird can be used to determine the precise species. Distinguishing features The western grebe has a straight bill with a dull green-yellow color as opposed to the Clark's grebe, which has a sligh ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Miodytes
''Miodytes'' is a fossil genus of grebe known from a nearly complete specimen from Valjevo Basin, western Serbia known from an almost complete right wing skeleton. It contains a single species, ''M. serbicus''. History The specimen was collected from Bela Stena, Suseoke village. The binomial nomenclature for ''Miodytes serbicus'' means "Serbian Miocene diver". Description The holotype specimen of ''Miodytes'' is a slab that contains the right wing skeleton of the bird, nearly completed, consisting of the distal fragment of humerus, ulna, radius, carpometacarpus and parts of the wingtips. Due to the nature of the bones in the slab, the authors Dimitreijevich et al. (2002) used the humerus part and the carpometacarpus to provide comparative anatomy and a diagnosis. ''Miodytes'' can be differentiated from other grebes as the genus has a well developed epicondylus ventralis and a very deep and long sulcus musculi brachialis. The processus supracondylaris dorsalis is absent from th ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Least Grebe
The least grebe (''Tachybaptus dominicus''), an aquatic bird, is the smallest member of the grebe family. It occurs in the New World from the southwestern United States and Mexico to Argentina, and also on Trinidad and Tobago, the Bahamas and the Greater Antilles. Description The least grebe ranges in length from (depending on the subspecies) and in weight from . Weights are variable based on region and subspecies, being smaller in Panama, where males weighed a mean of against the females and larger in the West Indies, where the sexes weigh a mean of and , respectively. In Texas, size is intermediate at and . Even in the largest races, the least grebe is still smaller and lighter than any other grebe species.''CRC Handbook of Avian Body Masses, 2nd Edition'' by John B. Dunning Jr. (Editor). CRC Press (2008), . Like all grebes, its legs are set far back on its body and it cannot walk well, though it is an excellent swimmer and diver. Small and plump, with a fairly short, sha ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Pliolymbus
''Pliolymbus'' is a fossil genus of grebe known from the Late Pliocene to Early Pleistocene of United States and Mexico. It is known from a single species, ''P. baryosteus''. History The specimens were collected in the summer of 1950 from Kansas, United States by Claude W. Hibbard and the species was named in 1967 by Bertram G. Murray. The binomial nomenclature for the species means “heavy bone Pliocene diver” in reference of the age and skeletal features of the grebe. Howard (1969) would published an specimen collected from Lake Chapala from a series of field surveys in the region from 1926, 1958 and 1963. Description A total of six specimens of ''Pliolymbus'' have been recovered. The holotype consists of the anterior portion of the sternum (UMMP 51839). The additional specimens are a humerus (UMMP 51840), proximal of a coracoid (UMMP 51841), the shaft of a tarsometatarsus (UMMP 51844), and a more incomplete specimen that has more complete remains of coracoids, an ulna and ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Podiceps
''Podiceps'' is a genus of birds in the grebe family. The genus name comes from Latin ''podicis'', "rear-end" and ''ped'', "foot", and is a reference to the placement of a grebe's legs towards the rear of its body. It has representatives breeding in Europe, Asia, North, and South America. Most northern hemisphere species migrate in winter to the coast or warmer climates. They breed in vegetated areas of freshwater lakes, nesting on the water's edge, since their legs are set too far back for easy walking. Usually two eggs are laid, and the striped young may be carried on the adult's back. All the genus are excellent swimmers and divers, and pursue their fish prey underwater. Adults have striking breeding plumage, with no difference between the sexes. In winter, the plumage is subdued whites and greys. Systematics The genus ''Podiceps'' was erected by the English naturalist John Latham in 1787. The type species was subsequently designated as the great crested grebe (''Podice ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Tachybaptus
''Tachybaptus'' is a genus of small members of the grebe family birds. The genus name means "quick diving": it is from Ancient Greek ''takhys'' "quick" and ''bapto'' "I dip". It has representatives over much of the world, including the tropics. These grebes breed in small colonies in heavily vegetated areas of freshwater lakes. They may move to more open or coastal waters when not breeding, and birds in those areas where the waters freeze may be migratory. Like all grebes, they nest on the water's edge, since the legs are set very far back and they cannot walk well. The striped young are sometimes carried on the adult's back. These small grebes are excellent swimmers and divers, and pursue their fish prey underwater. The sexes are similar: dumpy and short-billed with a “powder puff” rear end. Adults have a distinctive breeding plumage and loud breeding calls. In winter, they are grey and white. The five Old World species are closely related to each and at least three have i ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Loon
Loons (North American English) or divers (British / Irish English) are a group of aquatic birds found in much of North America and northern Eurasia. All living species of loons are members of the genus ''Gavia'', family Gaviidae and order Gaviiformes . Description Loons, which are the size of large ducks or small geese, resemble these birds in shape when swimming. Like ducks and geese, but unlike coots (which are Rallidae) and grebes ( Podicipedidae), the loon's toes are connected by webbing. The loons may be confused with the cormorants (Phalacrocoracidae), but can be distinguished from them by their distinct call. Cormorants are not-too-distant relatives of loons, and like them are heavy-set birds whose bellies, unlike those of ducks and geese, are submerged when swimming. Loons in flight resemble plump geese with seagulls' wings that are relatively small in proportion to their bulky bodies. The bird points its head slightly upwards while swimming, but less so than cormorants ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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South America
South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the southern subregion of a single continent called America. South America is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east by the Atlantic Ocean; North America and the Caribbean Sea lie to the northwest. The continent generally includes twelve sovereign states: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela; two dependent territories: the Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; and one internal territory: French Guiana. In addition, the ABC islands of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Ascension Island (dependency of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, a British Overseas Territory), Bouvet Island ( dependency of Norway), Pa ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |